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[Sir Tigger KC]

It looks like the country's infrastructure WILL be changed at vast expense to suit cyclists!   

'Dutch roundabouts' where cars have to give way to cyclists are being tested and may be introduced in London next year!   

That's really going to help congestion in the capital  and I bet the dastardly EU have a hand in this somewhere.... 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22347184

[tunnie]

Good idea they are

Can only see it being at a handful of places though.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I think it's a crap idea to be honest and I can see more cyclist injuries as motorists won't realise that they have to give way.... 

[scimmy_man]

In York this morning, a cyclist went through a red light and bounced off the front of a van going through on green,

lots of witnesses I bet the cyclist claims he was in the right.

[Gaffers]

This was filmed this afternoon in Aldershot and shows the type of behaviour I see on a regular basis from motorists. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqXlKrk8Os4&feature=youtu.be

I was doing a moderate speed of around 20mph approaching a roundabout and signalling to turn left.  The car behind just had to overtake even though this put me in a dangerous situation as the road narrows at the roundabout with a traffic island.

My choices:

a) slam on brakes, not knowing if the car behind this idiot has seen me (potentially dangerous to me)
b) swerve out to the idiot standing my ground but dont know if there is anything to his right like a motorcyclist (potentially dangerous to someone else)
c) stand my ground and make eye/verbal contact forcing him to back off.  You can probably just make out I shouted "What are you doing?"

I chose c) and got a toot of the horn for my troubles.  In retrospect I probably should have taken more of the road i.e. held  position further out in the middle of the lane to dominate the road and try to prevent the temptation of the motorist to do this.

BUT!  This is what a lot of motorists complain about with us 'bloomin cyclists' in the middle of the road.  I hope this explains a little better why this is a necessary technique 

Edit: video link now working

[cleggy]

There are arse wipes on the road from both sides.

The major point IMHO is that car drivers are insured and pay the road fund license cyclist don't. So if in lycra obey the highway code, and don't think that you own the road.

[Gaffers]

There are arse wipes on the road from both sides.

The major point IMHO is that car drivers are insured and pay the road fund license cyclist don't. So if in lycra obey the highway code, and don't think that you own the road.

I pay 2 lots of road tax.  One on the jag and one on the Focus.  So that point is mute.

And I will own the road when it is to ensure my safety

[paul.lovejoy]

i pay 3 lots of road tax and i havent even got a bike, so there is a cyclist some where who does not own a car being subsidised by me 

[Gaffers]

i pay 3 lots of road tax and i havent even got a bike, so there is a cyclist some where who does not own a car being subsidised by me 

 

[Gaffers]

Of course if all RFL went to the upkeep of our roads then we'd have fantastic roads which were friendly for al.  Alas I suspect less than 10% of it actually goes to maintaining britains roadways

[Andy B]

i pay 3 lots of road tax and i havent even got a bike, so there is a cyclist some where who does not own a car being subsidised by me 

Must be somewhere ...... I subsidise my none car driving son with my 3 lots of road tax 

[Andy B]

Of course if all RFL went to the upkeep of our roads then we'd have fantastic roads which were friendly for al.  Alas I suspect less than 10% of it actually goes to maintaining britains roadways

Unfortunately it's been VED for a long long time 

[Gaffers]

Of course if all RFL went to the upkeep of our roads then we'd have fantastic roads which were friendly for al.  Alas I suspect less than 10% of it actually goes to maintaining britains roadways

Unfortunately it's been VED for a long long time 

And I think that is a major cause of the problems

[paul.lovejoy]

This was filmed this afternoon in Aldershot and shows the type of behaviour I see on a regular basis from motorists. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqXlKrk8Os4&feature=youtu.be

I was doing a moderate speed of around 20mph approaching a roundabout and signalling to turn left.  The car behind just had to overtake even though this put me in a dangerous situation as the road narrows at the roundabout with a traffic island.

My choices:

a) slam on brakes, not knowing if the car behind this idiot has seen me (potentially dangerous to me)
b) swerve out to the idiot standing my ground but dont know if there is anything to his right like a motorcyclist (potentially dangerous to someone else)
c) stand my ground and make eye/verbal contact forcing him to back off.  You can probably just make out I shouted "What are you doing?"

I chose c) and got a toot of the horn for my troubles.  In retrospect I probably should have taken more of the road i.e. held  position further out in the middle of the lane to dominate the road and try to prevent the temptation of the motorist to do this.

BUT!  This is what a lot of motorists complain about with us 'bloomin cyclists' in the middle of the road.  I hope this explains a little better why this is a necessary technique 

Edit: video link now working

blimey no wonder you got beeped you need some road mate must be a wide load also noted the swevering to miss the man holes you probably cut that poor motorist up several times before the rounderbout

[Kevin Wood]

Road tax is for when you're driving vehicles that pollute. Not relevant to cyclists whatsoever.

Take as much of the road as you need to be safe. A cyclist can control the amount of road to his left, but not to his right. You just need to judge the clearance required, then double it.